Ontario Premier Doug Ford, joined by Deputy Premier and Health Minister Christine Elliott and Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano, held a briefing on Thursday on the province's ongoing COVID-19 measures.

Ford said it was “frustrating” to see testing in Ontario lag behind other provinces, but said he's asked his team to come up with a plan for random testing by next week, saying he wants to see testing expand into more industries including food processing, trucking and automotive professions. He added that he feels that the province needs to test more people, not just those experiencing symptoms.

Romano and Ford also announced on Thursday that they were moving forward with 15 proposals for various Ontario-based projects related to COVID-19, including a rapid testing method in Hamilton which, when distributed, could enable 6,000 tests per lab a day, and a food security project in London.

Further pressed on testing, Ford said that he wants teachers, daycare staff, early childhood educators and other adults in education tested before daycares and schools reopen. Asked if he also wants students and kids in daycare to be tested, he said no, but stressed he still wants “as many people tested as absolutely possible.”

As of Thursday, the province saw 413 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 24,187. There were also 31 deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,993.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/6963826/ontario-face-coverings-masks-physical-distancing-coronavirus-covid19/

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